Café restaurants in Sydney
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Blue Water Café
The huge portions are a major drawcard at this bustling beach café adorned with surfboards. Choose between pasta, burgers, wraps, pide and grills, mostly under around A$20 but up to around A$29 for a juicy sirloin.
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Park Café
With McEvoy St’s fumy factory fray just a block away, this surprising little mod cafe is a great spot to take time out from shopping with a glass of wine on the sunny terrace. The food’s fresh and fabulous with Mediterranean pep (try the seafood and potato risotto and the custard tarts), and the coffee’s excellent.
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Barzura
Frequented by retired Australian cricketers in dark sunglasses, Barzura has views that have to be the best of any cafe in Sydney (if not the world!). The sunbaked stretch north along Coogee Beach to Bondi is a stunner, as are deliciously uncomplicated salads, pides, pasta dishes and generous breakfasts, all served with a smile.
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Bar Coluzzi
Legendary Coluzzi has been here since 1957 and still attracts an odd-ball mix of old Italian gents, judges, Kings Cross dealers, Darlinghurst gays, students and suits. The food is fine (bagels, focaccias and pastries) but what you’re here for is the spoon-standing-up-straight-in-the-cup coffee.
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Jellyfish
There are much better places for coffee, but this similarly surfboard-strewn café is a good choice for a light lunch or heftier dinner. Keep an eye on the surf as you munch on salt and pepper squid or a tasty smoked salmon and avocado wrap (around A$11).
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Dare
‘Delicious and Responsible Eating’ is the cut and thrust here, and (dare we say) it lives up to the acronym. Expect a slew of healthy, organic and morally well-informed options (salads, pancakes, muffins, slices, muesli, smoothies) with no preservatives or additives, all offered in biodegradable containers. Rainforest Alliance coffee and plenty of gluten-free choices too. Impressive!
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The Gumnut Teagarden
Housed in the leafy backyard of a wonderfully preserved Rocks cottage (1829), the Gumnut serves good, old-fashioned nosh such as sandwiches, pies and ploughmen's platters. The antique theme carries through to tables fashioned from Singer sewing machine bases. Expect quality coffee and cakes Granny would be proud of. Chill out to live jazz on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons.
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Gallery Café
The barista here has the coolest full-sleeve tattoo going ’round. We can’t guarantee he’ll be there when you visit, but the other dudes behind the counter are just as good at cranking out the black stuff. Order a New York–style turkey-and-cranberry toasted sandwich (heavy on the meat) and check out the ever-changing art on the walls.
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Café Zoe
A little slice of Surry Hills has crossed Cleveland St and headed south into the forbidden zone…Redfern! So bad has Redfern’s rep been that Sydneysiders lock their car doors as they drive through, but these days things are on the up. Case in point, Zoe – a classy corner cafe serving fab sandwiches, pasta, salads, risottos and super coffee.
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Sloanes
Don’t be deterred by the tiny shop front: head down the back, where there’s a cute courtyard shaded by mature trees. Breakfasts and coffee are winners, and the lunch blackboard is crammed with fancy pies, salads, panini and soup. This is the place where Paris Hilton famously, like, totally wandered off without paying her bill. Like, shut up!
reviewed
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Tramezzini Espresso
There aren’t a lot of decent downtown places for a reasonably priced, healthy bite, so this Italian cafe in the foyer of the AMP building is worth remembering. Unsurprisingly, the clientele is extremely suity but don’t let that and all the ostentatious marble get in the way of a flat white and a zingy egg-and-parmesan breakfast roll.
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Katipo Coffee House Deluxe
Named after New Zealand's only poisonous spider this unassuming café offers a little extra bite in everything it does. Even the tap water is subtly flavoured with fresh fruit and delivered with a smile. For breakfast try the Nouveau Hippy Vego Feast - a banquet of eggs, herb-roasted tomato, garlic mushrooms, kumera and wilted greens.
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La Buvette
Like its sister Spring next door, La Buvette is absolutely teeny. That doesn't stop it being crammed with the beautiful, the famous and the guppies (gay urban professionals in the latest designer sunglasses). The menu features salads, sandwiches and crepes, but our favourite is the baked eggs with chorizo. Excellent coffee.
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Caffe Salina
Salina is onto a winner, with long brunches and hangover specials (bacon, egg, steak, roast tomatoes, chips and a glass of iced Berocca). Fix-you-up food, great coffee and soothing seaside air – perfect for when you’re feeling subpar. It’s licensed too, if you feel like launching another assault.
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Green's Café
This institution-green neighbourhood café has a 1950s nana-chic aesthetic and is prone to doing oddball things like hosting tea towel and apron exhibitions. Devonshire teas are served, but the menu is contemporary café fare, with excellent all-day breakfasts (try the delicious parmesan scrambled eggs).
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Badde Manors
The feeling’s eclectically Old World, but Badde Manors is a New Age kinda joint. It can get hectic here, but service remains cool and composed – no sign of the alleged bad manners. Dogs sleep blissfully outside, dreaming of the Portuguese custard tarts and rhubarb crumble behind the glass.
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All About… Ramona's
It's all about the vibe in this groovy café, with cool art on the walls and a fish-tank fashioned from a 1950s TV set. It's a great place to kick back with a free newspaper, coffee and a slice of their exquisite cheesecake. Sam I Am fans should try the green eggs and ham (scrambled with pesto).
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Little Marionette
This little triangular room off the main street is so un-Balmain (ie youthful and a bit hip). Staff groove to cool tunes as they prepare bacon-and-egg rolls, Peking duck wraps, banana bread with passionfruit butter, and killer coffee. A namesake Pinocchio watches remorsefully from the top shelf.
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Jed’s Foodstore
Jed’s is so relaxed, you’ll feel like you’re back in a uni share house again. Reggae mellows the tattooed staff, who sing and groove around; dudes sip coffee outside as kids and dogs run amok. Grab a seat for the Caribbean-style jerked potato scramble and a strong coffee.
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Digi.Kaf
It's great to find an internet café that hasn't neglected the café bit. This one promises 'coffee, cake and cyberspace' and delivers much more than that, including a cracking brunch and cool surrounds. There's a tiny side lane for al fresco dining and nary a gaming nerd to be seen.
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One Alfred Street
An unexpected gem among the morass of Circular Quay fast-food joints, One Alfred Street serves up classics such as slow-cooked Wagyu beef with potato and parsnip flakes, and quality fish and chips. Also great for a morning caffeine fix or a lazy afternoon vino (Antipodean wines only).
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Fair Trade Coffee Company
Unashamedly hippie and slightly grungy, this is great spot for guilt-free coffee and a community atmosphere. The food raids a number of cuisines, from a Mediterranean platter to Colombian arepas, nasi goreng and Moroccan meatballs. Serves are tasty and substantial.
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Old Fish Shop Café
In a converted fish shop (no prizes for figuring that out), this is Newtown's tattooed, dreadlocked, caffeine-hungry hub. Friendly pierced staff will fix you a double shot as you put your feet up on the cushions in the window and watch the freak-show on the street.
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The Source
If you're hankering for a coffee en route to Balmoral or the zoo, grab a seat at the communal table at this new, modern café. These guys are more than passionate about the stuff. Prepare to be tempted by the selection of fresh sandwiches and cakes.
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Bakery Café
It doesn't look like much, but this little bakery serves satisfying breakfasts, fresh baguettes and filling pasta meals. It's well positioned for the backpackers down the road and a friendly change from other too-cool cafés on the strip.
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